THE TOWN OF PELHAM. 29 



July. 1649, when the Director General, Peter Styvesant, in behalf of 

 the same company, purchased " Wechquaesqueeck " — which, like the 

 forme* grant, comprehended much of the present County of West- 

 chester — from the three Indian sachems " Megtegichkama, Oteyschgue, 

 and Wegtakockken." 



On the day following the above conveyance to the Dutch, on the 

 20th of April, 1640, we find an agreement betwixt Daniell Patricke and 

 Mahackem, and Naramake and Pemenat. Hewnompom, Indians of 

 Norwake and Makentouk, in which the latter conveyed to the former the 

 ground called Sacunyte Napucke, also Mecanworth ; thirdly, Asumsowis ; 

 fourthly, all the land adjoininge to the afore-mentioned, as farr up in the 

 country as an Indian can goe in a day from sun risinge to sun settinge and 

 twoe islands neare adjoininge to the sayed Carantenayneck, all bounded 

 on the west side with Noewanton, on the east side to the middle of the 

 river of Norwake, &c. Norwalk records Book of Deeds in the year 

 1672. Only two months prior to these sales Mahachemo, Sachem, 

 Tomakergo, Tokaneke, and Prosewamenos, Indians of Nonvalke, con- 

 veyed to Roger Ludlow all the lands, &c, "between the two rivers, the 

 one called Norwalke the other Soakatuck to the middle of sayed rivers, 

 from the sea a dayes walk into the country."* 



In the Summer of 1642, the widowed Anne Hutchinson, her son 

 Francis and her son-in-law, Collins, " A young scholar full of zeal," to 

 avoid the bitter persecutions of the Puritans, fled here for protection 

 and commenced a plantation. b 



This Colony was situated on Pelham Neck formerly called " Annie's 

 Hoeck" and was long distinguished as the " Manor of Anne Hoock's 

 Neck" and nearly adjoined the Dutch district of " Vredeland" or the 

 '' Land of Peace." 'Yet no patent or ground-brief appears on record for 

 these lands, and why ? for the simple reason that Mrs. Hutchinson was 

 cut off before the purchase had been completed. This is fully confirmed 

 by the testimony of Thomas Pell, the subsequent proprietors, given 

 before a Court of Assize, held in New York 29th of September 1665, 

 wherein he states " that he bought the land (Pelham and Westchester) 

 in question in the year 1654 of the natives and paid them for it. He 

 pleads his being a free denizen of England, and hath thereby liberty to 

 purchase in any of his Majesties dominions within which compass this 

 is. He alleges the fifth clause in the Kings treaty, sent over hither to 

 make for him, as declaring this land to be within his Majesties do- 



o Norwalk records Book of Deeds in the year 16T2, 75 Alb. Rec. Lib. G. G., 323-507. 



6 Neal, the Puritan Historian says that Anne Hutchinson "removed with her family into 

 one of the Dutch Plantations called Hebgate." {Teals' Hist, of New England, vol. i, p. 178. 

 Chandler says : "the whole family of the' Hutchinsons removed from beyond New Haven to 

 East Chester in the Territory of the Dutch." Chandler's Crim. Trials, vol. i, p. 27. 



